A pair of starters won't be playing this week for the Detroit Lions as offensive linemen Christian Mahogany (hip) and Blake Miller (knee) have been ruled out ahead of Thursday night's showdown in Buffalo.
Both players missed practice during a short week following Sunday's season-opening 31-30 overtime victory against the New Orleans Saints but had remained optimistic about possibly suiting up against Buffalo in the Bills' first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium before being ruled out.
Miller, the Lions' pick at No. 17 in the draft, said that he felt pain in his knee during the Saints game but that it worsened afterward. He started at right tackle.
"Just kind of one of those things," Miller said Monday. "You come off after a drive, something feels a little weird. You gotta get home, and the adrenaline wears off and you start to notice it a little more."
Mahogany was carted off the field in the opening quarter of Week 1 then ruled out, but Lions coach Dan Campbell doesn't feel that his injury is a long-term issue.
"I mean, we feel like we've got enough depth here to get through this," Campbell said Monday. "Yeah, Mahogany got that little injury here. I don't think this is something serious long term, but it could be tough to get him ready for Thursday."
Mahogany, who started at left guard, was seemingly injured on a noncontact play, stumbling in the open field as Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs broke for a 21-yard gain at 6:11 in the first quarter. After going down, he slowly walked off the field with trainers before being carted into the back.
Without Mahogany and Miller, the Lions will rely on veteran Larry Borom, who will likely take Miller's spot, while Ben Bartch will replace Mahogany.
